Friday, April 18, 2008

The Libertarian Party issued a statement from Executive Director Shane Cory following the announcement of the federal government’s new practice of collecting DNA data from people arrested, though not convicted, for federal offenses:

“The new practice of collecting DNA data from people arrested for federal crimes raises serious privacy concerns. The government will now be compiling a databank from people arrested, though not convicted, of any federal crime. Therefore, if you are detained for a federal crime, even a minor offense in a national park, you will have your DNA stored forever with the federal government. This is a sad day for privacy rights in a country that used to value the idea of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ However, this comes as no surprise given this Republican administration’s eagerness to increase the power and scope of the federal government.”